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Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution gives Congress the power to create a robust intellectual property (IP) system in order to promote the progress of science and useful arts. The Founders understood that society would benefit if we incentivize creativity and innovation.

During my time in Congress, I have worked to uphold this principle and to find common ground with my colleagues to pass legislation that would address some of the challenges creators face. For example, I co-lead the Music Modernization Act (MMA) in 2018 to improve the licensing process so that songwriters, artists and musicians can continue to share their creativity with the world and the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act in 2019 to allow the creative middle class to protect their works.

Our intellectual property system has been a vital contributor to U.S. cultural and economic development for more than 200 years, fostering the production and dissemination of the valuable expression that has put America at the forefront of the global creative marketplace. Because of our copyright laws, American inventors, innovators, photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, musicians, songwriters and authors have been able to share their vision with the world and create tens of millions of American jobs while doing it. 

While new technologies have allowed for greater dissemination of these works, they also present new and unique challenges. That’s why I am committed to continuing to ensure that our nation remains a leader in the creative economy.

For more information concerning my work on intellectual property for Brooklynites, please contact me.

More on Intellectual Property

Reps. Jeffries, Marino Lead Bipartisan Effort to Help Musicians and Artists Protect Their Creative Work

Rep. Jeffries Statement on the Songwriter Equity Act